Idaho Falls in Bonneville County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

Upper Snake River Valley Irrigation

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 20, 2013

1. Upper Snake River Valley Irrigation Marker

Inscription. The fertile soil and abundance of water in this valley lured pioneer settlers. With small slip scrapers, hand plows, picks and shovels, they cleared sagebrush, built log homes, made canals, ditches and dams to put water on the land. One of the first canals was built in 1879-1880. Rock and brush dams were built to divert water into headgates. Men lost their lives in this work. Later canals were enlarged and better dams built. The largest dam, known as the "Great Feeder", completed June 22, 1895, diverts water from South Fork into a network of canals. Through consolidation of canal systems, 700,000 acres of irrigated land with 100 canals, known as the Upper Portion of District No.36, are using 4,150,000 acre feet of water from the river and its tributaries each irrigation season. Here the dream of reclaimed desert has been brought to full fruition. This is the legacy left by those pioneers to present and future generations.

Erected 1956 by Bingham, Bonneville, Jefferson, Madison and Fremont Counties, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. (Marker Number 228.)

Topics and series. This historical marker

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is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 22, 1895.

Location. 43° 29.822′ N, 112° 2.485′ W. Marker is in Idaho Falls, Idaho, in Bonneville County. It is at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Riverside Drive, on the left when traveling north on Memorial Drive. The marker is located just west of the traffic roundabout, in the park overlooking the Snake River, along the Idaho Falls Greenbelt Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Idaho Falls ID 83403, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Idaho and the Yellowstone Fringe.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Eagle Rock Meeting House (a few steps from this marker); The Idaho Falls LDS Hospital and School of Nursing (within shouting distance of this marker);

Upper Snake River Valley Irrigation Marker (<i>wide view of front side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 20, 2013

2. Upper Snake River Valley Irrigation Marker (wide view of front side)

Snake River Bridge (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Prisoners of War in Idaho Falls (approx. 0.2 miles away); Native American Encampments (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Odd Fellows (approx. 0.2 miles away); Idaho Falls Idaho Temple (approx. 0.2 miles away); Farmers' and Merchants' Bank (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Idaho Falls.

More about this marker. The marker is a metal tablet mounted on a large granite marker with extensive artwork.

Upper Snake River Valley Irrigation Marker (<i>wide view of back side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 20, 2013

3. Upper Snake River Valley Irrigation Marker (wide view of back side)

Upper Snake River Valley Irrigation Marker (<i>farmer tableau</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 20, 2013

4. Upper Snake River Valley Irrigation Marker (farmer tableau)

Upper Snake River Valley Irrigation Marker (<i>farm & river tableau</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 20, 2013

5. Upper Snake River Valley Irrigation Marker (farm & river tableau)

Upper Snake River Valley Irrigation Marker (<i>horse & plow tableau</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 20, 2013

6. Upper Snake River Valley Irrigation Marker (horse & plow tableau)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 791 times since then and 51 times this year. Last updated on January 24, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 9, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.